Poems (From the Devonshire manuscript. Part IIc.)

11

Hate whom ye list for I care not;
Love whom ye list and spare not;
Do what ye list and dread not;
Think what ye list, I fear not; 4
For as for me I am not
But even as one that recks not
Whether ye hate or hate not.
For in your love I dote not, 8
Wherefore I pray you forget not,
But love whom ye list, for I care not.

Hate whom ye list for I kare not :
Love whom ye list and spare not :
Do what ye list and drede not :
Think what ye list I fere not :
For as for me I am not,
But even as one that reckes not,
Whyther ye hate or hate not ;
For in your love I dote not,
Wherefore I pray you forget not,
But love whome ye list, for I care not.

NOTES

4 - 7. For as for me etc. = For I am not even like one who bothers to care whether you love or hate.
9. forget not - i.e. do not forget what I have just said.

12

Grudge on who list, this is my lot,
No thing to want if it were not. 2
My years be young even as ye see,
All things thereto doth well agree,
In faith, in face, in each degree
Nothing doth want as seemeth me, 6
If it were not.
Some men doth say that friends be scarce,
But I have found as in this case
A friend which giveth to no man place,
But makes me happiest that ever was, 11
If it were not.
Refrain
Grudge on who list this is my lot,
No thing to want if it were not. 14
A heart I have besides all this,
That hath my heart and I have his;
If he doth well it is my bliss,
And when we meet no lack there is 18
If it were not.
If he can find that can me please,
A thinks he does his own heart's ease,
And likewise I could well appease
The chiefest cause of his misease, 23
If it were not.
Refrain
Grudge on who list, this is my lot
No thing to want if it were not. 26
A master eke God hath me sent
To whom my will is wholly bent
To serve and love, for the intent
That both we might be well content, 30
If it were not.
And here an end, it doth suffice
To speak few words among the wise;
Yet take this note before your eyes:
My mirth should double once or twice 35
If it were not.
Refrain
Grudge on who list, this is my lot,
No thing to want if it were not 38

Grudge on who liste, this ys my lott
No thing to want if it ware not
My yeris be yong even as ye see,
All thinges therto doeth well agre,
Yn faithe, in face, in eche degre
Nothing doth want as semith me,
If yt ware not.
Som men dothe say that frendes be skarce,
But I have founde as in this cace
A frend wiche gyveth to no man place,
But makis me happiest that ever was,
If it ware not.
Refrain
Grudge on who list this is my lot
No thing to want if yt ware not.
A hart I have besidis all this,
That hath my herte and I have his ;
If he doeth well yt is my blis,
And when we mete no lak ther is
If it want not.
If he can finde that can me please,
A thinckes he dois his owne hertes ease ;
And likewise I could well apease
The chefest cause of his misease,
If it ware not.
Refrain
Grudge on who liste, this is my lot
No thing to want if it ware not.
A master oke God hath me sente
To have my will, is hollye lent
To serve and love, for the entente
That bothe, we myght be well contente,
If it ware not.
And here an end, it doeth suffise
To speke fewe wordes among the wise ;
Yet take this note before your eyes :
My mirth shulde double ons or twise
If yt ware not.
Refrain
Grudge on who liste, this ys my lott
No thing to want if it ware not

NOTES

The meaning of this poem hinges on the enigmatic phrase in the refrain 'If it were not'. The speaker is a woman (See l.16). The mysterious 'it' which prevents the lady from experiencing happiness to the full is possibly her undesired marriage or betrothal to another man.
1. lot = fate.
2. to want = to lack; to desire.
4. All things thereto etc. = Everything else is in harmony with my youth, i.e. trust (in the beloved), appearance,
5. in each degree = in all divisions and , in all ways.
10. giveth to no man place = is superior to all others.
15. heart = sweetheart, lover.
16. that hath my heart and I have his - This shows that the phrase '(He) (My true love) hath my heart and I have his' was current long before Sidney made it famous.
18. no lack there is = (?) there is no lack of anything; all is joyousness.
19. If it were not - Foxwell gives 'If it want not', possibly a mis-reading.
20. that = that which.
21. A thinks = he thinks. 'a' for 'he ' was a common usage of the time.
22. appease = satisfy.
23. The chiefest cause etc. - Perhaps her inability to marry him.
27. eke = also. However Foxwell gives 'oke' which presumably is taken to be a mistake by later editors. (Muir gives eke). I think it would be possible to construe this phrase as 'a master oak' to which the holly is subservient. Holly trees do grow in oak woods, sometimes under the oak itself.
29. intent = intention, purpose.
33. That the wise need few words is proverbial.

13

What should I say,
Since faith is dead,
And truth away
From you is fled?
Should I be led
With doubleness?
Nay, nay, mistress!
I promised you,
And you promised me,
To be as true
As I would be.
But since I see
Your double heart,
Farewell my part!
Though for to take
It is not my mind,
But to forsake
[One so unkind]
And as I find,
So will I trust:
Farewell, unjust!
Can ye say nay?
But you said
That I alway
Should be obeyed?
And thus betrayed
Or that I wiste--
Farewell, unkissed.

What shulde I saye,
Sins faithe is ded,
And truth awaye
From you ys fled?
Shulde I be led
With doblenesse?
Naye, naye, mistresse!
I promiside you,
And you promisid me,
To be as true
As I wolde be.
But sins I se
Your doble herte,
Farewell my parte!
Though for to take
Yt ys not my minde,
But to forsake
[* * * *]
And as I finde
So will I truste
Farewell, unjust!
Can ye say naye?
But you saide
That I all waye
Shulde be obeide,
And thus betraide
Or that I wiste
Farewell, unkiste.

NOTES

14

Tangled I was in love's snare,
Opressed with pain, torment with care,
Of grief right sure, of joy full bare,
Clean in despair by cruelty, 4
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty. 6
The woeful day so full of pain,
The weary night all spent in vain,
The labour lost for so small gain:
To write them all it will not be, 10
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty. 12
Everything that fair doth show,
When proof is made it proveth not so,
But turneth mirth to bitter woe,
Which in this case full well I see. 16
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty. 18
Too great desire was my guide,
And wanton will went by my side;
Hope ruled still, and made me bide
Of love's craft th'extremity. 22
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty. 24
With feigned words that were but wind,
To long delays I was assiged.
Her wily looks my wits did blind;
Thus as she would I did agree. 28
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty. 30
Was never bird tangled in lime,
That brake away in better time,
Than I that rotten boughs did climb,
And had no hurt but scaped free. 34
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty. 36

Tanglid I was in loves snare,
Oprest with payne, torment with care ;
Of grefe right sure, of joye full bare,
Clene in dispaire bye crueltye ;
But ha ! ha ! ha ! full well is me,
For I am now at libertye.
The wofull daye so full of paine,
The werye nyght all spent in vayne,
The labor lost for so small gayne ;
To wryte them all yt wyll not be,
But ha ! ha ! ha ! full well is me,
For I am now at libertye.
Everything that faire doeth sho,
When prof is made it proveth not soo,
But torneth mirthe to bittre woo,
Wich in this case full well I see ;
But ha ! ha ! ha ! full well is me
For I am now at libertye.
To grete desire was my guide,
And wanton wyll went bye my syde ;
Hope rulid still, and made me byde
Of loves craft thextremitye.
But ha ! ha ! ha ! full well is me
For I am now at libertye.
With faynid wordes that ware but winde,
To long delayes I was assind :
Her wylye lokes my wyttes ded blinde :
Thus as she wolde I ded agree.
But ha ! ha ! ha ! full well is me
For I am now at libertye.
Was never birde tanglid in lyme,
That brake awaye yn better tyme,
Then I that rotten bowes ded clyme,
And had no hurte but scaped fre.
But ha ! ha ! ha ! full well is me
For I am nowe at libertye.

NOTES

2. torment = tormented.
10. to write them all = to describe them all (My pains and sorrows).
14. proof = test. proveth = turns out to be.
20. wanton will = unbridled desires, lust.
21. bide = endure.
22. the extremes to which love's deceits bring the lover.
28. as she would I did agree = I did as she bid me.
31. lime = birdlime, a viscous sticky substance prepared from the bark of the holly and used to catch small birds. (OED 1a).
32. That brake away = which escaped.
34. scaped = escaped.

15

Longer to muse
On this refuse
I will not use,
But study to forget; 4
Let my all go,
Since well I know,
To be my foe
Her heart is firmly set. 8
Since my intent,
So truly meant,
Cannot content
Her mind as I do see; 12
To tell you plain,
It were in vain,
For so small gain
To lose my liberty. 16
For if he thrive
That will go strive
A ship to drive
Against the stream and wind, 20
Undoubtedly
Then thrive should I
To love truly
A cruel hearted mind. 24
But sith that so
The world doth go
That every woe
By yielding doth increase, 28
As I have told
I will be bold
* * * * *
Thereby my pains to cease. 32
Praying you all
That after shall
By fortune fall
Into this foolish trade, 36
Have in your mind
As I do find,
That oft by kind
All women's love do fade. 40
Wherefore apace
Come, take my place,
Some man that has
A lust to burn the feet; 44
For since that she
Refuseth me,
I must agree
And perdy to forget. 48

Longer to muse
On this refuse
I will not use,
But studye to forget ;
Lett my all goo,
Sins well I kno,
To be my foo
Her herte is fermely sett.
Sins my entente,
So trulye mente,
Cannot contente
Her minde as I do see ;
To tell you playne,
Yt ware in vayne,
For so small gaine
To lose my libertie,
For if he thryve
That will go stryve
A shipp to dryve
Againste the streme and winde,
Undoutedlye
Then thryve shulde I
To love trulye
A cruel hertid mynde.
But sith that so
The worlde doeth goo
That everye woo
By yelding doth incresse,
As I have tolde
I wilbe bolde
Therbye my paynis to cese.
Praying you all
That after shall
Bye fortune fall
Ynto this folishe trade,
Have yn your minde
As I do finde,
That oft be kinde
All womens love do fade.
Wherefore a pace
Come, take my place,
Some man that hase
A lust to berne the fete ;
For sins that she
Refusith me,
I must agre
And perdye to forgett.

NOTES

2. refuse = refusal.
3. Iwill not use = I will not habituate myself; I will not.
17. If he thrive = If there is any man who could thrive.
25. sith = since.
28. yielding = (?) giving in to the demands of she who causes the woe.
31. The rhyme scheme suggests that a line is missing.
36. trade = way of life.
39. by kind = according to their nature.
44. A lust to burn the feet - i.e. by dipping his feet into hot water.

16

Love doth again
Put me to pain
And yet all is but lost. 3
I serve in vain
And am certain
Of all, misliked most. 6
Both heat and cold
Doth so me hold
And cumbers so my mind, 9
That when I should
Speak and behold
It driveth me still behind. 12
My wits be past,
My life doth waste,
My comfort is exiled, 15
And I in haste
Am like to taste
How love hath me beguiled. 18
Unless that right
May in her sight
Obtain pity and grace, 21
Why should a wight
Have beauty bright
If mercy have no place? 24
Yet I alas
Am in such case
That back I cannot go, 27
But still forth trace
A patient pace
And suffer secret woe. 30
For with the wind
My fired mind
Doth still inflame, 33
And she unkind
That did me bind
Doth turn it all to game. 36
Yet may no pain
Make me refrain
Nor here and there to range, 39
I shall retain
Hope to obtain
Her heart that is so strange. 42
But I require
The painful fire
That oft doth make me sweat, 45
For all my ire,
With like desire
To give her heart a heat. 48
Then shall she prove
How I her love,
And what I have offered, 51
Which should her move
For to remove
The pains I have suffered. 54
And better fee
Than she gave me
She shall of me attain, 57
For whereas she
Showed cruelty,
She shall my heart obtain. 60

Love doth againe
Put me to payne
And yet all is but lost,
I serve yn vayne
And am certayne
Of all, mislikid most.
Both heate and colde
Doth so me holde
And combred so my minde,
That when I shulde
Speke and beholde
It dryveth me still behinde.
My wittis be paste,
My lif doeth waste,
My comforte is exild,
And I in haste
Am lyke to taste
How love hathe me begilde.
Onles that right
May yn her sight
Obtaine pitye and grace,
Whye shulde a wight
Have bewtye bright
Yf mercye have no place ?
Yett I alas
Am in soche cace
That bak I cannot goo,
But still forth trace
A patiente pace
And suffre secret woo.
Ffor with the winde
My fyred mynde
Doth still inflame,
And she unkinde
That ded me binde
Doth torne yt all to game.
Yet may no payne
Make me refraine
Nor here and there to range,
I shall retaine
Hope to obtayne
Her hert that is so straunge.
But I require
The paynefull fire
That oft doth make me swete,
For all my yre,
Withe lyke desire
To gyve her herte a hete
Then shall she prove
Howe I her love,
And what I have offerde,
Whiche shulde her move
For to remove
The paynes I have suffrd.
And better ffe
Than she gave me
She shall of me attayne,
For whereas she
Showde crueltye,
She shall my hert obtayne.

17

With serving still
This have I won,
For my goodwill
To be undone. 4
And for redress
Of all my pain,
Disdainfulness
I have again. 8
And for reward
Of all my smart,
Lo, thus unheard
I must depart! 12
Wherefore all ye
That after shall
By fortune be
As I am, thrall, 16
Example take,
What I have won
Thus for her sake
To be undone! 20

With serving still
This have I wone,
For my goodwyll
To be undon.
And for redress
Of all my payne,
Disdaynefulnes
I have againe.
And for reward
Of all my smarte,
Lo, thus unharde
I must departe !
Wherefore all ye
That after shall
Bye ffortune be
As I am, thrall,
Example take,
What I have won
Thus for her sake
To be undone !

NOTES

14. That after shall = who shall, in future times.

18

Now all of change
Must be my song,
And from my bond now must I break,
Since she so strange 4
Unto my wrong
Doth stop her ears to hear me speak. 6
Yet none doth know
So well as she
My grief which can have no restraint;
That fain would follow 10
Now needs must flee,
For fault of ear unto my plaint. 12
I am not he
By false assays
Nor feigned faith can bear in hand,
Though most I see 16
That such always
Are best for to be understond. 18
But I that truth
Hath always meant,
Doth still proceed to serve in vain,
Desire pursueth 22
My time misspent,
And doth not pass upon my pain. 24
O fortune's might
That each compels,
And me the most. It doth suffice
Now for my right 28
To ask nought else,
But to withdraw this enterprise. 30
And for the gain
Of that good hour,
Which of my woe shall be relief,
I shall refrain 34
By painful power,
The thing that most hath been my grief. 36
I shall not miss
To exercise
The help thereof that doth me teach,
That after this 40
In any wise
To keep right within my reach. 42
And she injust,
Which feareth not,
In this her fame to be defiled,
Yet once I trust 46
Shall be my lot,
To quit the craft that me beguiled. 48

Now all of change
Must be my songe,
And from mye bonde nowe must I breke,
Sins she so strange
Unto my wrong
Doth stop her eris to here me speke.
Yet none doth kno
So well as she
My greffe wiche can have no restrainte ;
That faine wolde follo
Nowe nedes must fle,
For faute of ere unto my playnte.
I am not he
By fals assayes
Nor faynid faith can bere in hande,
Tho most I see
That such alwaies
Are best for to be understonde.
But I that truth
Hath alwaies mente,
Doeth still procede to serve in vayne,
Desire pursuith
My tyme mispent,
And doeth not passe upon my payne.
O fortunes might
That each compellis,
And me the most yt doeth suffice
Now for my ryght
To aske nought ells,
But to withdraw this enterprise :
And for the gaine
Of that good howre,
Wiche of my woo shall be relefe,
I shall refrayne
Bye paynefull powre,
The thing that must have bene my grefe.
I shall not miss
To exersyse
The helpe therof that doth me teche,
That after this
In any wise
To kepe ryght within my reche.
And she injuste,
Which ferith not,
Yn this her fame to be defilyd,
Yett ons I trust
Shalbe my lott,
To quite the craft that me begilid.

NOTES

6. stop her ears to hear me = stops up her ears to prevent herself from hearing me.
12. fault of = lack of.
15. bear in hand = use deceit, hoodwink.
18. understond = understood. I.e. those who use deceit are more likely to be accepted.
22-24. Desire harasses me through all my misspent time, and it cares not about my pain.
30. to withdraw this enterprise = to cease this pursuit of love.
34. refrain = refrain from (seeing).
35. painful power = by exercesing will power, though it causes pain to do so.
37-8. miss / To exercise = fail to make use of .
41. In any wise = in any way I can.
42. right = justice, good sense.
45. her fame = (?) her beauty, her reputation.
45. to be defiled - the suggestion seems to be that her reputation will be tainted by the poet abandoning her.
46. once = on one occasion at least; at last.
48. to quit the craft = to requite the deceit, to have my revenge.

19

Driven by desire I did this deed,
To danger myself without cause why,
To trust the untrue not like to speed,
To speak and promise faithfully. 4
But now the proof doth verify,
That who so trusteth ere he know,
Doth hurt himself and please his foe. 7

Dryven bye desire I dede this dede,
To daunger myself without cause whye,
To trust the untrue not lyke to spede,
To speke and promise faithefullie.
But now the proof dothe verifie,
That who so trustithe ere he kno,
Doth hurte himself and please his ffoo.

NOTES

20

Perdy I said it not
Nor never thought to do,
As well as I ye wot,
I have no power thereto. 4
And if I did, the lot
That first did me enchain
Do never slack the knot,
But strait it to my pain. 8
And if I did, each thing
That may do harm or woe,
Continually may wring
My heart whereso I go; 12
Report may always ring
Of shame of me for aye,
If in my heart did spring
The word that ye do say. 16
If I said so, each star
That is in heaven above,
May frown on me to mar
The hope I have in love; 20
And if I did, such war
As they brought out of Troy,
Bring all my life afar
From all this lust and joy. 24
And if I did so say,
The beauty that me bound,
Increase from day to day
More cruel to my wound; 28
With all the moan that may,
To plaint may turn my song;
My life may soon decay,
Without redress, by wrong. 32
If I be clear from thought
Why do ye then complain?
Then is this thing but sought
To turn me to more pain. 36
Then that that ye have wrought,
Ye must it now redress,
Of right therefore ye ought,
Such rigour to repress. 40
And as I have deserved,
So grant me now my hire;
Ye know I never swerved,
Ye never found me liar. 44
For Rachel have I served,
(For Leah cared I never)
And her have I reserved
Within my heart for ever. 48

Perdye I saide it not
Nor never thought to do,
As well as I ye wott,
I have no powre therto :
And if I ded, the lott
That first ded me enchain
Do never slake the knott,
But strayte it to my payne.
And if I ded, eche thing
That maye do harme or woo,
Contynuallye maye wring
My herte wherso I goo ;
Reporte may alwayes ring
Of shame of me for aye,
Yf yn my herte ded spring
The worde that ye doo saye.
If I saide so, eche sterre
That is in heven above,
Maye frowne on me to marre
The hope I have yn love ;
And if I ded, such warre
As they brought out of Troye,
Bring all my lyff afarre
From all this lust and joye.
And if I ded so say,
The bewtye that me bound,
Encresst from daye to daye
More cruell to my wounde ;
With all the mone that may,
To playnte may torn my song ;
My lif may sone dekay,
Without redresse bye wrong.
Yf I be clere fro thought
Whye do ye then complaine ?
Then ys this thing but sought
To torne me to more payne.
Then that that ye have wrought,
Ye must it now redresse,
Of right therfore ye ought,
Such rigor to represse.
And as I have deservid,
So graunte me nowe my hire ;
Ye kno I never swervid,
Ye never fownd me lyre.
For Rachell have I servid,
(For Lya carid I never)
And her have I reservid
Within my herte for ever.

NOTES

The poem is based loosely on a canzone by Petrarch. Wyatt modifies the original and gives it more directness. He is defending himself against the charge, made by his mistress, that he said he loved someone else, or said he did not love her.
1. Perdy = by God! a mild oath.
2. Nor never thought = (I neither said it), nor did I even think it.
3. As well as I etc. = You know as well as I do.
4. thereto = in that respect, with regard to that.
5. the lot = the fate.
7. Do never = does not ever (i.e. his fate does not release him).
8. strait = tightens (the knot).
11. may wring = let it wring.
12. whereso = wheresoever.
23. Bring all my life afar = may it take me far away from.
27. Increase = let it increase.
28. More cruel to etc. = so that it hurts me even more than it does at present, (by its cruelty).
32. by wrong - i.e. the wrong you do to me will cause my life to wither and decay.
37. that that = that harm which
42. grant me now my hire = pay me (for my just deserts).
45-6. Rachel ... Leah = Biblical names which stand in place of the beloved lady, and the other whom he is supposed to have swerved toward. I.e. I have always been faithful to you alone. Leah contains a pun on 'liar'.
47. reserved = kept aside, kept separate.